GRAIN DRYERS

Wet grain is loaded into the dryer and is dried using a flame. The flame heats up the centre and blows hot air, which is dispersed by a fan, and as the grain recycles, it dries through the heat cycle. 

The grain dryer works out what the moisture % the grain is by its heat and then once it reaches a certain %, that has been set by the farmer, it automatically empties it. If you have enough grain stored in the bin, then the dryer will continuously keep working through the loads until either the bin is empty, or the farmer turns the dryer off. 

The cost to set up a grain dryer really depends on what size and style of dryer you choose to install. Are you simply looking for a mobile dryer? Or perhaps you would like a complete grain handling system, where the dryer and handling equipment are fitted into a building. If you are unsure which route to go down or looking for advice on how to action your plans, get in touch with our grain experts for a free quote on 01361 883245.

A Mobile Grain Dryer works in the same way as a fixed Grain Dryer, in terms of how it dries the grain, however the one major difference, and benefit, is the Mobile Dryer is easily transported. This is ideal for farmers who have don’t store their grain in one singular place, allowing easy layout updates or movements from one farm to another.

Another benefit of the Mobile Grain Dryer is its return on investment. Since the Dryer is not fixed in any one place, it means it is easier for the farmer to sell it on, if they ever wish or need to do so. In the same way they could sell a combine or a tractor.

The fuel consumption of a Grain Dryer depends on the crop you are drying, the quantity and the size of your dryer, however a rough guide is 1 litre of diesel or 1m cubed of gas per ton of wet grain for the evaporation of 1% of moisture.

There are three different types of Grain Dryers: 

Batch Dryer
This is another name for your Mobile Dryer, and has many benefits including speed, flexibility and higher return on investment. 

Continuous Flow Dryer
This is a system where the drying process of the crop continues uninterrupted, and its biggest benefit is that it can save 10-30% in energy costs. However, it is a fixed structure, meaning it cannot move locations once installed. 

Drying on the Floor
This is exactly what it sounds, the heat source is under the grain store floor, and blows heat up the way to where the grain is stored. This is a popular method for those who have biomass as they can generate temperature. This is a longer way of drying your crop, but it is more fuel efficient since the process is spread out over a longer time frame. 

The highest temperature a grain dryer reaches is completely dependent on the type of crop being dried. However, as a rule of thumb, you would never heat crop at temperatures higher than 200 degrees Fahrenheit, although the dryer is more often than not capable of going higher. 

Each crop has an optimum temperature, depending on their end use, higher quality crop needs to be dried at a lower temperature for a longer time period in order to prevent germination. If you dried a crop far too fast and far too high, it runs the risk of cracking. 

For example, Feed Crop would be dried at 200 degrees, whereas malting crop – to be used for Whisky – would be dried at 120, since it needs to be of a higher quality after the drying process. 

Dryers are designed with multiple crops in mind and therefore are fully adjustable to whatever the crop depends, meaning you can adjust the temperature and time for each use, depending on what you will be drying. 

It’s good practise to put your grain through the dryer every year, as it ensures your grain has a polished appearance and an even hectolitre weight.